The Associated Press

Supporters of Tunisia's ruling moderate Islamist party are expected to mass for a pro-government rally a day after the funeral for an assassinated leftist politician drew hundreds of thousands of mourners chanting anti-government slogans into the capital's heavily policed streets.

The ruling Ennahda party says it's calling supporters to gather in central Tunis Saturday afternoon at 1430 CET to show support for the constitutional assembly whose work on a new constitution suffered a severe setback when leftist parties withdrew their participation following the killing Feb. 6 of Chokri Belaid.

Ennahda said the demonstration would also protest "French interference" after comments earlier in the week by French Foreign Minister Manuel Valls, who denounced the killing as an attack on "the values of Tunisia's Jasmine revolution."